November 25, 2010, Del Mar, California. Displays light up at the opening night of the Holiday of Lights held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Photo by James Gregg/San Diego Union-Tribune.
— James Gregg

del mar 

The annual drive-through Holiday of Lights attraction at the Del Mar Fairgrounds has been canceled this year because of a $5 million racetrack-widening project now under way.

Holiday of Lights has been an annual event at the fairgrounds for the past 18 years. More than 400 lighted and animated displays are set up along the perimeter of the main track for car, truck and bus drivers to motor past.

Last year, 19,561 vehicles, with a combined 78,000 spectators, toured the attraction during its traditional run from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.

But heavy construction at the track this year forced officials to ax the popular event.

After the close of horse-racing season last month, the old turf track in the infield was torn out to widen it by about 25 percent to 80 feet. The expanded grass track will accommodate 14 horses, compared to the eight to 10 thoroughbreds it fielded in the past, and it will also make the turns a little softer for horses and riders.

With a track that wide, racetrack officials will be able to host a second meet in fall 2014, and they also hope to lure the prestigious Breeder’s Cup Championship in 2015, said fairgrounds spokeswoman Linda Zweig.

She said fairgrounds officials hope to bring back Holiday of Lights in 2014, though they’re not sure how it may have to be adapted because of the physical changes to the track and the addition of a fall racing season that would run until Dec. 7.

“That is our hope,” Zweig said. “Holiday of Lights has become a family holiday tradition for many.”

San Diego resident Joice Truban Curry said she’s sad to hear the event won’t be held this year. She and her husband, Sean, drove through the illuminated attraction with their cat Missy every year from its debut in 1995 until Missy died in 2010.

“It was a great tradition for our little family. We never missed it,” Truban Curry said. “We would turn on Christmas music, and all three of us would enjoy looking out the windows at the displays. What was neat was that if you missed something the first time, they’d let you drive around again. I may sound like a crazy cat lady, but Missy always knew where to spot Santa and his sleigh in the grandstand.”

Truban Curry said she’s hoping the displays return next year.

“It was so fun. People came from all over, and it was a really special community thing,” she said.